Display rack



H. O. TOMPKINS DISPLAY RACK Oct. 29, 1935.

Filed April 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 29, 1935. O. TOMPKlNs 2,019,371

DI SPLAY RACK Filed April 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 29, 1935 DISPLAY RACK Herbert Odell Tompkins, White Plains, N. Y.

Application April 2, 1934, Serial No. 718,710

17 Claims.

This invention relates to display racks of the type adapted to the display of assortments of articles, and is of particular utility in stores for the display of miscellaneous groups of greeting or picture cards, or other small objects.

An essential object of the invention is to provide a rack of the type referred to presenting a plurality of compartments for different kinds of articles, so constituted that the number and size the various compartments may be altered at will to conform to the size and number of the various articles to be displayed at any given time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rack construction including a plurality of removable accessory parts such that one or several models of the device will answer a wide range of requirements for display purposes and enable the invention to be adapted to any'particular requirements, and changed as requirements change,

merely by inserting, removing, or repositioning various of the accessory parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device such that the various kinds of articles displayed are separated from each other and all readily accessible, and in this connection to provide a special arrangement such that various display elements referring to or identifying the different articles will be properly positioned with relation to the particular articles each designates.

The latter arrangement is such that the display elements will not readily be dislodged or mixed, but provision is made whereby the position and number of display elements may be readily altered to conform to changes in the number and size of 3 article receiving compartments of the rack.

Essentially, the display rack of this invention involves an article receiving channel formation, preferably a plurality of channel members arranged side by side, and there being provided a plurality of partition plates engageable with the channel side walls and dividing each channel member into article receiving pockets. While conceivably the partition plates may be aifixed to the channel walls, it is proposed in carrying out 45 the main objects of the invention to make the partition plates readily removable,and to use individual partition plates for the separate channels so that the number of article receiving pockets in each may be varied at will independently of the others.

While the cross-sectional contour of the channel members may be governed to some extent by the shape of the articles to be displayed, I now believe it advantageous to make the same more 55 or less V-shaped to provide angularly related side walls. In any event, however, the channels at certain portions, preferably at their bottom, will be narrower than in other portions of their height and so proportioned with respect to the partition plates that the portion in which their walls are 5 closer together will be narrower than the width of the partition plates. With such arrangement slots may be provided in the opposing walls of th individual channels which will engage such plates but at the same time allow the same to be 10 removed and inserted at will, and by providing a .mltiplicity of slots longitudinally of the channels, plates may be inserted at any desired position in accordance with the number and size of article compartments required. 15

i propose to make my rack of sheet material,

p eferably metal, and I find that the main strucre may be cheaply made to provide any desired number of channel members from a single sheet stamping or a bending and cutting process, and 20 that the accessory parts may be similarly formed.

Provision is made between each channel for the support of price or identifying card appliances in the required number and a peculiar and novel arrangement is resorted to in this connection as 25 will more fully be explained.

The above and other features and advantages the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accom- 30 pany-in'g drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank of sheet material from which the'b'ody of the display rack is formed where the same is to be constructed as a single unit; 7

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the completed rack, and illustrating arbitrarily the application various partition plates thereto to form article receiving pockets of varying size and position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the structure of 40 Fig. 2, illustrating how the same may be applied to a store counter for display purposes;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views of a title card holder, showing the particular construction thereof and the manner of securing the same in the rack structure; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical view in section, illustrating the construction and arrangement of the partition plates and showing also a modification of the rack structure.

Referring to the drawings wherein similar parts in the various views are indicated by the same numerals, I have shown in Figures 2 and 3 a display rack wherein the essential features of the invention are disclosed. The rack proper is indicated generally at In and presents a structure providing a series of channels. The rack may be made of a group of separate channel forming elements, or may be formed as a unit from a single blank 20 of sheet material illustrated in Figure 1, This blank may be of any material, but preferably light sheet metal is employed because of its strength and ability to retain shape. In forming the rack, the blank 20 is bent along a series of transverse lines to form a plurality of channels. The channels may be of any shape, according to the particular type of article to be displayed. The blank 20 when bent along the lines indicated Will form the particular channel structure of Figure 2 Each channel will be defined by a pair of opposing upstanding walls II lying at an angle to each other, the channel increasing in width preferably from bottom to top. A bottom wall may be provided in the channels in the form of a horizontal Web portion l2 which spaces and connects the lower ends of the opposing walls II. The channels so formed are arranged side by side to constitute the complete rack, and adjacent channels may as shown in the drawings be spaced from each other and connected together by web portions l3 interposed between the upper ends of adjacent channel walls. The spacing Webs l3 may have another function which will be more fully described.

In its manufacture, it may be advisable, depending upon the kind of material used to form the rack, to provide a base in order to keep the rack rigid. In Figures 2 and 3, I have shown a base member I4 supporting the rack. Any convenient means may be used for securing the rack to the base member in order to make the structure rigid.

I have made provision in the construction of my display rack for dividing each of the several channel members into a series of pockets, the size and number of which may be varied at will. To this end the opposing walls l l of each channel are provided with a series of upwardly directed slots I5 running longitudinally of the walls. (Each slot extends vertically of the walls and is of substantial length.) Preferably the slots extend upwardly from the lower end of the channel to a point near the top of the wall, but this is not essential. The chief feature of the slots is that they occur at numerous points on each wall and that those in one Wall of a channel be opposite and complementary to corresponding slots in the other wall.

In order to provide pockets in the channels of the rack and to vary the number or size of the pockets, I utilize partition plates I 6 so formed that they may be readily fitted transversely of the channels and engaged by corresponding slots in the opposing channel walls, yet be easily removed therefrom. It is essential in their construction that the plates for portions of their length be wider than the channel and present edge portions engageable with the channel wall slots. The plates may be of rectangular shape,

.as shown in Figures 3 and 6, wider than the narrower portion of the channel, but not too wide to be withdrawn through the open top end of.

the channel. They may be held by the slots at their lower ends, but at such ends should be no wider than the transverse distance between channel walls at the upper extremities of the corresponding slots. By providing a plurality of these partition plates, each fitting a single channel, the various channels, one independently of the other, may be divided by inserting any desired number of plates into slots at selected points longitudinally of the channels to provide any size and number of pockets in accordance with the type, number and size of articles which are to be displayed at a given time.

The horizontal web portions l3 hereinbefore referred to as connecting the walls of adjacent channels are of sufficient Width to support elements such as price or title cards referring to the articles displayed, and may be provided with a longitudinal series of slotted apertures I]. These slots may be provided in any number but preferably are suificient to accommodate enough display elements to identify the articles held in each of the pockets of an adjoining channel. The display element, or title card holder, may be of the type shown in Figures 4 and 5 and designated generally by the numeral l8. There the same comprises a spring member bent upon itself to provide a pair of legs l9 and an interconnecting loop portion 29 to which is affixed a card holder 2 I. The legs may be flattened in order to more readily fit into the slots l1 and formed with notches 22. In applying the holder to the rack at desired points corresponding to the pockets in the channels, the legs are pressed together for insertion into the slots El and then released. The notches 22 will cooperate with the edges of the slot to retain the holder in position. By providing a series of notches on each leg, the title card holder may be positioned at the desired height above the channel. Spring strips 23, as shown in Figure 6, may be secured to the rear face of one of the channel walls, the same being adapted to engage and steady the lower ends of the legs 19 and cause the display ele ment l8 to assume the same slope as the channel wall.

As also shown in Figure 6, the rack may be con- 40 structed from a, multiplicity of channel forming members 39, instead of being formed from a single blank of sheet material. Such members will be of an inverted V-shape, providing a wall adjacent channel. At the respective ends flanges 33 and 34 will be provided to engage a base 35. As in the main embodiment a web portion 36, with or without display element engaging slots 31,

' 3! for one channel and a wall 32 for the next 45 may be included at the upper ends of the mem- 5Q bers between the side walls 3! and 32. The various members will be assembled to form a rack in any number, depending on the number of channels required, by placing the same side by side in order and lapping the flange 33 of one ,5

posing wall 32 of another member, and the whole (.0

rack will be as rigid as in the case of the integral structure previously described. Slots 38 will be again provided to engage partition plates I6, as shown.

The adaptabilities of the display rack will be 65 best understood from the perspective view of Figure 2. As there shown different numbers of partitions may be inserted in each individual channel to make a variety of article receiving pockets of any desired size, and by inserting or removing 70 partitions, alterations can be quickly made in conformity with the stock on hand of each article to be displayed. The whole structure as described is adapted, as illustrated in Figure 3, to be supported on a counter r: table 40, and may conveniently and neatly be set ofi by providing a surrounding frame or molding 4|.

- It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herein shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples, and that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a display rack, one or more channels defined each by a pair of opposing upstanding walls, individual partition plates for each channel extending transversely thereof and dividing the same into a plurality of article receiving pockets,

corresponding upwardly directed slots in the opposing channel walls to receive the partition plates said individual partition plates being wider at their lower end than the channel bottom and engaging opposing of said slots, and said partition plates being narrower at their upper end than the transverse distance between the upper por-- tion of the slots so as to individually be readily insertible and removable from each channel.

2. In a display rack, one or more channels defined each by a pair of upstanding walls and increasing in width from bottom to top, individual partition plates for each channel extending transversely thereof and dividing the same into a plurality of article receiving pockets, corresponding upwardly directed slots in the opposing channel walls to receive the partition plates, said individual partition plates being wider at their lower end than the bottom portion of the channel and narrower at their upper end than the wider portion of the channel at the upper ends of opposing slots so to be engaged by said slots and individually being readily insertable and removable from each channel.

3. In a display rack, a series of channels, each of said channels being of greater width at their top than at their bottom and defined by opposing flat walls, corresponding slots in each of said walls, individual partition members engageable with the slots and extending transversely of the channels to provide pockets therein, said individual partition members at their lower ends being wider than the lower end of the channel, and narrower at their upper ends than the upper end of the channel, and being readily removable.

4. In a display rack, one or morechannels defined each by a pair of opposing inclined walls and increasing in width from bottom to top, corresponding upwardly directed longitudinal slots in the opposing sloping channel walls, rectangular partition plates extending transversely of each channel and dividing the same into a plurality of article receiving pockets, said partition plates being narrower than the wider portion of the channel but of greater width than the narrower portion of the channel and at least for a part of their length engaging corresponding slots in the opposing sloping channel walls.

5. A display stand comprising a series of channels, each 01" said channels being defined by two upstanding walls connected at their lower ends by a horizontal web portion, said walls being provided with a series of oppositely disposed upwardly directed slots, individual partition members for each channel engaging opposed slots and dividing the several channels into compartments, said partition members being wider at their lower ends than the lower ends of the channels and narrower at their upper ends than the upper ends of the channels.

6. In a display rack, a series of channels, each of said channels increasing in width from bottom to top and being defined by upstanding angularly related walls,-the Walls of adjacent channels being connected by a web portion, corresponding upwardly directed slots in the opposing Walls of each channel, individual partition plates for each channel extending transversely thereof and dividing the same into a series of compartments, said partition plates beingwi'der than the bottom portion of the channel and engaging corresponding upstanding slots in the opposing channel walls, but being no wider than the upper widest-spaced portion of said opposing slotsso as to be readily removable.

7. In a display rack, one or more channels defined each by a pair of opposing walls and increasing in width from bottom to top, complementary series of upwardly directed slots in the opposing walls of each channel at frequent points longitudinally thereof, partition plates for each individual channel adapted to divide the channel transversely into article receiving pockets, the lower channel ends being narrower than the partition plates so that each partition plate when in position in a channel will be engaged by an opposing pair of upstanding slots of the several series, the partition plates being individually insertable into and removable from each channel through the open'top end thereof and any desired number of partition plates being positionable through complementary pairs of the slots of the opposing series at any selected points longitudinally of each channel to divide said channel into the required number of article receiving pockets of the same or different widths.

8. In a display rack, a series of channels defined each by a pair of opposing walls and arranged adjacent each other in parallel relation,

individual partition plates of approximately the same width as the open end of the single channel but transversely and individually insertable into and removable from each channel independently of the other channel through said open ends to transversely divide the channel into a plurality of article receiving pockets, the opposing walls of each channel for a portion of their height being closer together than the width of said partition plates and there being in said opposing walls aligned series of upwardly directed slots, each opposing pair of slots being adapted to engage the side edges of a partition plate inserted between the channel walls, there being slots of the complementary opposing series in each channel at frequent points longitudinally thereof permitting partition plates in any desired number to be inserted and engaged at any one or more selected points longitudinally of each channel independently of the number and position of partition plates in the other channels, whereby each of the several channels may be provided with the same or diiferent number of article receiving pockets of the same or different lengths as may be required therefor.

9. In a display rack, a plurality of article receiving channel members composed of sheet material, said members being defined each by a pair of opposing side walls and a fiat horizontal bottom web portion spacing and connecting the lower ends of said opposing side walls, and said members being arranged side by side in a series, an underlying flat base member rigidly secured to the various channel members of the series and anchoring the same against relative longitudinal movement, and spacing elements between adjacent channel members of the series comprising horizontal web portions interposed one between and connecting the upper ends of the side walls of one channel member with the upper ends of the adjacent side walls of the next channel member in the series.

10. In a display rack, a series of channel members formed of sheet material and each having opposing side walls and a bottom Web portion spacing and connecting the lower ends of said opposing side walls, a flat base member extending beneath said series of channels and supporting the same through engagement with their bottom web portions, corresponding series of upwardly directed slots in the opposing side walls of the channel members, and readily removable partition plates engageable with said slots extending transversely of the channel members and dividing the same into a plurality of article receiving pockets.

11. In a display rack comprising a piece of sheet material folded along successive transverse lines to form a series of channels having opposing side walls, complementary series of upwardly directed slots extending longitudinally of the opposing side walls of the respective channels, and individual partition plates for the respective channels adapted to extend transversely of a channel at desired positions longitudinally thereof and to engage the opposing side walls of said channel through selected pairs of the complementary series of slots therein independently of the number and position of partitions in other channels of the series, one or more of the partition plates being insertable into and removable from one channel independent of the number and position of partition plates in other channels, whereby the various channels may be divided through said partition plates into the same or a different number of article receiving pockets of the same or different lengths.

12. A display rack comprising a piece of sheet material folded along successive transverse lines to form a series of channels having opposing side walls inclined towards each other so as to be closer together at one end than the other, said opposing walls of the respective channels being provided with complementary longitudinal series of upwardly directed slots, and individual partition plates for the respective channels engageable for a portion of their length with the slots inthe opposing inclined walls.

13. A display rack comprising apiece of sheet material folded along successive transverse lines to form a series of channels defined by opposing side walls, and forming also web portions between the walls of adjacent channels adapted to support one or more display elements designating the contents of the successive channels, the opposing walls of the respective channels being provided with series of, corresponding upwardly directed slots, and readily removable partition plates engageable with corresponding slots in the opposing side walls of individual channels and dividing the channels each into a required number of article receiving pockets.

14. In a display rack, a plurality of article receiving channel members having opposing side walls, said channel members being arranged side by side in a series, spacing elements interposed between adjacent walls of successive channel members, apertures in said spacing elements and display elements bearing indicia relating to the article contents of the successive channels having a resilient supporting portion making resilient engagement with the apertures in said channel spacing elements.

15. In a display rack, a plurality of article receiving channel members having opposing side walls, said channel members being arranged side by side in a series, spacing elements interposed between the walls of adjacent channels, apertures in said spacing elements, and display elements adapted to bear indicia relating to the article contents of the successive channels supported by said spacing elements, said display elements having a pair of spring supports adapted to resiliently engage the apertures in the channel spacing elements.

16. In a display rack, a plurality of article receiving channel members having opposing side walls, said channel members being arranged side by side in a series, web portions of sheet material connecting the upper ends of adjacent walls of successive channel members, slotted apertures in said web portion, and exhibitor elements positionable between successive channels and adapted to bear indicia relating to the article contents of the channels, said exhibitor elements having a pair of spring legs provided with notches adapted to engage the slotted apertures in the web portions between the channels.

17. In a display rack, a plurality of channel members having opposing side walls, complementary series of upwardly directed slots extending longitudinally of the opposing side walls of the respective channel members, readily removable individual partition plates adapted to be inserted into the respective channels at desired points longitudinally thereof and engageable by slots in the opposing channel side walls to divide the respective channels into article receivingpockets of the desired number and length, the various channel members being arranged side by side in a series and there being display indicia supporting portions interposed between. the walls of adjacent channels, a series of apertures in said supporting portions, and display indicia elements adapted to make spring engagement with said apertures, there being a series of apertures extending longitudinally of each supporting portion permitting one or more indicia bearing elements to be secured thereto in appropriate position in accordance with the number and position of the article receiving pockets formed in the respective channels by the partition plates.

HERBERT ODELL TOMPKINS. 

